The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-02-03
LOOKING BACK TO 1886.
A Favorable Comparison With
the Record Of '85.
BALTIMORE'SSTEADY PROGRESS
Increased Commercial and Industrial Ac-
tivity-The Valuable and Interesting
8 Address of President j ohm IL. Hurst
Our transportation Lines-Freieht
Rates to Other Points-The
Trade Statistics of the
Fast Year.

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issue an array of valuable statistics concerning
the trade. manufactures and general industries
of Baltimore that cannot fail to be read with
rare interest by all classes of people in all sec
tons of the country.
As the metropolis and leading seaport of the
South, Baltimore has occupied an advanced pc
sition for more than a century and the industrial
exhibits which We print to-day will show that
it is still far in advance. and that its commerce
is full of promise for the future.
There are some lines of trade in which Bal
timore has refrigerated, but of what city can
mot the same be said? 1t is the history of all
great commercial centres that from time to
time they lose in one direction and gain in an
other, and in this respect whatever Baltimore
may have lost has been more than compensated
for by growth in other fields of enterprise.
As illustrative of the grand progress made by
Baltimore in the past, and of the brilliant
promises held in store by the future, we
cannot do better than to present the
annual address of Mr.. John E. Hurst
president of the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Association. The remarks of President
Hurst are replete with statements of the high
est value, and they deserve the most hearty
consideration, as they are the result of a care
full study of the subjects treated of. Following
is the address:
Address of President Hurst.
GENTLEMEN In looking back upon the
business transactions of the year Just closed, a
favorable comparison between 1t and the pre-
cedng wear is shown. The closing months OF
1895 nv larpa Of in
dustral and commercial activity. Though
some features OF business have yielded small
profits, the returns upon grand aggregate OF
1888, 600, 900 for the year, are gratifying.
The prosperity of cities is never a steady and
constant thing. Amid the new developments
of modern life new inventions, new lines OF
distribution and new rivalries, all great bust
ness centres are subject to fluctuations of COM
merce. In 1900 Baltimore was the gateway
between the markets of the East and the
needs of the West, but soon after new path
ways were opened In 1872 IA the superiority
Of the Baltimore Clipper gave US a great COM
mercial advantage, but now the Clipper is su-
perseded by better ships. In 1884 we were
The pioneers of railway enterprise, but
now great rival railroad lines ramify all
around us. At one time our sugar refining
Rnd our Southern provision trade were of vast
magnitude. but active mpetitlon and in some
eases inscriptions methods OF adversaries
have crippled our enterprises Such ups and
downs beiall ali cities, and we must not expect
= 10 be exempt from them. IL ought 10 suffice
if we see new industries coming into healthful
existence to take the places Of those that decay.
and that the city advances in population and
wealth upon the solid basis of manufactures
md trade. Those who keep abreast of the
times are as sure of far return for their enter
prise now as at any earlier period of the his
Tory of Baltimore.
Other cities suffer losses. For example, Chicago
and St. Louis at one time controlled the entire
trade of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and
Dakota, but now a large part of the produce of
those states is shipped direct from Kansas City
and Omaha to home markets, and to the At
lantlc ports for expectation. Yet the mer-
chants of those cities do not get dsheartened.
No; with unabated confidence in the future of
their cities, they turn to new fields of activity
and open up new channels of progress
Therefore, whatever may be said or written
in reference to the loss of certain enterprises it
is manlfestly not due to Baltimores location,
as compared with other cities, or in respect to
its facilities for material, labor, or transporta-
ton. Indeed, our diversified interests our
market as one Of original supply, our favora-
bic surroundings for the manufacture and job
bling of goods of every description our ability
to conduct transactions to a profitable conclu-
sion, at less expense than is possible, either in
New York or Philadelphia, place US on equal
footing with all the world. and are substantial
grounds upon which we may maintain a
steadfast faith in the future of our city; advan-
tages which have built up Baltimore to its
present greatness and which must carry it on
to grander future.
The facts and figures of our trade during the
past year, when compared with those of the
previous year. are full of encouragement. Ex-
portations of cotton have increased from
$4,000 bales to $50, GOO bales; petroleum, from
10,500,0 600 to II, 6600 900 gallons; canned goods,
from 56 900 to $4,000 cases slaves, from 1, 75S,
600 TO 2, 100000 lard, from Is. 600 to 49,
4lS,O0O lbs wheat, from 5,450.000 to 10, 500, 900
bushels; corn, from 1900 900 to 14000 600
bushels; flour, from 1,3460oo to 1,9l6,00o
bbs., and tobacco, from SO 900 to 81, 900 hhds.
line receipts OF the Clearing House have in
creased from 1851 ,918 900 to $616 800, 900. The
significance of these facts can hardly be mis-
taken. They speak for themselves.
On the other hand, our import trade seems
far less favorable. Tin plate is the only article
on the entire list that shows an increase. This
fact calls for an immediate and thorough in
vestlgation and discovery of the true causes
for this decline. When the cause is disclosed,
we must bend our efforts toward removing it
and securing remedy. As a first step in this
work, it is suggested that a committee of this
association should confer with the other trade
associations, with a view to preparing lists of
such imported articles as are affected by dis
PARTIES of valuation and rating in the various
custom-houSes to the pref udice of Baltimore.
This committee should invite merchants in
various lines of business to present schedules
of articles imported by them, in which they
are Systematically undersod by their legltl-
mate competitors i'll other cities; also, to SUBJ
init lists of articles formerly consigned by for
elgn manufacturers to merchants and agents
in Baltimore, but which are now diverted to
other cities, or at least materially decreased in
consignments to this port
By intelligent handling of this subject, by
proper cooperation with local officials and APP
praisers, by union of effort among our
selves, and by turning the electric light of in
vestgaton and publicity upon all dark places,
we may fairly hope to beat down the evils that
beset us now and that menace our future. 1t
should, however, be remembered that the true
interests of merchants of this city lie in order
ing foreign goods to be shipped upon lines run
ming direct to this port so that the goods may
be passed through our own custom-house
During the past year the Western MARYLAND
Railroad has strengthened its position by ac
quiring control of one road, and securing, over
another additional connections, which will
materially contribute to our trading facilities
The effect of The completion of the Phila-
dephia division of the B. d. 0. system must be
determined by actual experience. 1t is proper
to say, however, that Baltimore, city OF half
million of people. should not cramp herself
with old-fashioned or provincial ideas upon
matters of this magnitude. A broad view OF
the question must be adopted. This company,
which now embraces in its system all the
great cities of the West. IS not a corporation to
be managed in the exclusive interest of any
one city. 1t must recognize that it has duties
TO all the cities within It's ramtications. from
the Mississippi river to the Atlantic ocean. But.
by this recent extension it assumes larger